Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is reviewing the immunization records of 150,000 students
attending elementary and secondary schools in Ottawa to make sure the information is up to date. Updates on immunizations are crucial information to protect the health of students during an infectious disease outbreak, such as measles. Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), students attending school in Ontario are required to be vaccinated against nine diseases or have a valid exemption.
In the months ahead, OPH will be sending letters to parents if their child’s records are not up to date. A suspension from school may be issued if a student’s record remains incomplete. Written notices from Ottawa Public Health for students are now being mailed to parents.
To avoid school suspensions, parents who receive a letter requesting immunization information can contact OPH by phone at 613-580-6744 or submit immunization information online, by fax, by mail or by the ImmunizeCA app.
Parents can visit parentinginottawa.ca/immunization for more details about how to submit their child’s immunization information to Ottawa Public Health. Suspension letters for OCDSB students will be sent home starting in January 2016.